Attention all Wizards and Muggles!

Pottermore, J.K. Rowling’s online site for Harry Potter fans, is now “officially open” for new members.  The site’s developers expect the first week to be very busy with new registration, and names, ages and e-mail addresses must be supplied.  However, users are required to pick randomly assigned usernames and passwords to help protect personal identities.  Once entering, members will be sorted into the appropriate Hogwarts house and can begin exploring this highly interactive site.  Rowling will be adding new content to help extend the virtual world of Harry Potter.  The video below gives fans a sneak preview of what they can expect at this magical site.

This past weekend marked the 1ooth year anniversary of the sinking of the R.M.S. Titanic, the largest and most luxurious ship of its time.  To mark this historic event, FindingDulcinea‘s expert team of researchers has created a web page of resources, including pictures, video and transcripts about the “unsinkable ship,” as well as an update on the wreckage from National Geographic.

Warning: these games will make you smarter!

Here’s an online game that helps a very worthy cause.

Test your general knowledge and do a good deed at the same time.  For each correct answer, 10 grains of rice are donated to hungry people around the globe through the United Nations World Food Programme.

The opening game is vocabulary, but other categories include math, chemistry, geography, and foreign languages, including French and Spanish.

It’s easy to play: just the click the correct answer from one of four possible choices.  If you answer correctly, the next question is a little harder.

Warning:  This game may make you smarter.

In his author’s note in the book, Shannon writes, “A few years ago, my mother sent me a book I made when I was a little boy. It was called No, David, and it was illustrated with drawings of David doing all sorts of things he wasn’t supposed to do. The text consisted entirely of the words “no” and “David.” (They were the only words I knew how to spell.) I thought it would be fun to do a remake celebrating those familiar variations of the universal “no” that we all hear while growing. Of course, “yes” is a wonderful word…but “yes” doesn’t keep crayon off the living room wall.”

     What is Your Favorite Children’s Book of All Time?  

_____    Goodnight Moon       
_____      No, David!                    
_____    The Very Hungry    
Caterpillar           

_____   Other title.     Please write the name of your favorite below:

_____________________________________________________
______    I am a child in ______________________
______    I am a family member of a child at EWS
______    I am a teacher at EWS

Books get my vote!

New this year!!!

Can’t make it to the fair?  You can visit our the page for our Online Book Fair website  by clicking on the icon below.  The Online Fair will be open through Novemebr 11th, and all items ordered online will be shipped to the school at no cost to you.

You can still donate a book to the library or your child’s classroom. There will be raffle prizes for book donations.  For every $10 you spend on a book to be donated back to EWS, you get one raffle ticket for the prize of your choice, including Color Nooks (2), Legos, Gift Certificates and more!  Books and prizes are on display in the library through November 8th, Fathers Visiting Day.

All purchases benefit our school;  thank you for your support!

Overall Winner 2010: Adrina D.

 Here’s your chance to create an original work of art based on a book you have read.

Imagine that you have been chosen to design a book cover and could use any art medium at all (paint, crayons, markers, collage materials, etc).

All students in Kindergarten through Eighth Grade may participate and can pick up a piece of poster board in the library. Instructions are here: Book cover contest flyer 2011. 

All entries must be returned no later than Monday morning, October 24th in order to be viewed by our panel of judges. Winners will receive gift certificates to spend at the East Woods Fall Book Fair.

Have fun being creative!

Buckle your seatbelts, we’re off on a trip across the United States of America, reading our way from coast to coast!

This year in Library, students in the ECC and Lower School will learn about the wonderful country in which we live and will read books from the seven different regions of the United States. Beginning this month, we’re off to explore the Northeast, focusing on New England, and then in November, on the Mid Atlantic States. We’ll make our way around the country, learning lots of fun facts and reading some great books along the way.

Keep up with our travels by visiting the web site for this project.  The link is also at the top of this page of our blog.  You’ll find online sources with facts about the 50 states and educational games, as well as themed booklists.

We’ll share some postcards and “souveneirs” from our trip as we make our way across the USA,  so check back often and feel free to leave us a comment!